497K 1 totalreturnbondfundsummary.htm TOTAL RETURN BOND FUND SUMMARY FILING

Total Return Bond Fund Summary

Class/Ticker: Class R Ticker: WTRRX

Summary Prospectus

October 1, 2011

Link to Prospectus

Link to SAI

Before you invest, you may want to review the Fund's prospectus, which contains more information about the Fund and its risks. You can find the Fund's prospectus and other information about the Fund online at www.wellsfargo.com/advantagefunds. You can also get information at no cost by calling 1-800-222-8222, or by sending an email request to wfaf@wellsfargo.com. The current prospectus ("Prospectus") and statement of additional information ("SAI"), dated October 1, 2011, are incorporated by reference into this summary prospectus. The Fund's SAI may be obtained, free of charge, in the same manner as the Prospectus.

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks total return, consisting of income and capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

These tables are intended to help you understand the various costs and expenses you will pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

None

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of offering price)

None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees1

0.36%

Distribution (12b-1) Fees

0.25%

Other Expenses

0.49%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses2

1.10%

Fee Waivers

0.02%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver3

1.08%

1. Reflects the fees charged by Funds Management for providing investment advisory services to the master portfolio in which the Fund invests substantially all of its assets.
2. Includes gross expenses allocated from the master portfolio in which the Fund invests.
3. The Adviser has committed through July 11, 2013, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund's Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver, including the underlying master portfolio's fees and expenses, and excluding certain other expenses at the amounts shown above. After this time, the cap may be changed or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Example of Expenses

The example below is intended to help you compare the costs of investing in the Fund with the costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes a $10,000 initial investment, 5% annual total return, and that operating expenses remain the same as in the tables above. The example also assumes that the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver shown above will only be in place for the length of the current waiver commitment. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

After:

1 Year

$110

3 Years

$346

5 Years

$602

10 Years

$1,337

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions,when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 761% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 80% of the Fund's net assets in bonds; at least 80% of the Fund's total assets in investment-grade debt securities; up to 25% of the Fund's total assets in asset-backed securities, other than mortgage-backed securities; and up to 20% of the Fund's total assets in U.S. dollar-denominated debt securities of foreign issuers.

The Fund is a gateway fund that invests substantially all of its assets in the Total Return Bond Portfolio, a master portfolio with a substantially identical investment objective and substantially similar investment strategies. We may invest in additional master portfolios, in other Wells Fargo Advantage Funds, or directly in a portfolio of securities.

We invest principally in investment-grade debt securities, including U.S. Government obligations, corporate bonds and mortgage- and asset-backed securities. As part of our investment strategy, we may invest in stripped securities or enter into mortgage dollar rolls and reverse repurchase agreements, as well as invest in U.S. dollar-denominated debt securities of foreign issuers. We may also use futures, options or swap agreements to manage risk or to enhance return or as a substitute for purchasing the underlying security. While we may purchase securities of any maturity or duration, under normal circumstances, we expect to maintain an overall dollar-weighted average effective duration range between 4 and 5½ years.

We invest in debt securities that we believe offer competitive returns and are undervalued, offering additional income and/or price appreciation potential relative to other debt securities of similar credit quality and interest rate sensitivity. From time to time, we may also invest in unrated bonds that we believe are comparable to investment-grade debt securities. We may sell a security that has achieved its desired return or if we believe the security or its sector has become overvalued. We may also sell a security if a more attractive opportunity becomes available or if the security is no longer attractive due to its risk profile or as a result of changes in the overall market environment.

Principal Investment Risks

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. or its affiliates and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

Counter-Party Risk. A Fund may incur a loss if the other party to an investment contract, such as a derivative or a repurchase or reverse repurchase agreement, fails to fulfill its contractual obligation to the Fund.

Debt Securities Risk. The issuer of a debt security may fail to pay interest or principal when due, and changes in market interest rates may reduce the value of debt securities or reduce the Fund's returns.

Derivatives Risk. The use of derivatives such as futures, options and swap agreements, can lead to losses, including those magnified by leverage, particularly when derivatives are used to enhance return rather than offset risk.

Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investments face the potential of heightened illiquidity, greater price volatility and adverse effects of political, regulatory, tax, currency, economic or other macroeconomic developments.

Futures Risk. Because the futures utilized by a Fund are standardized and exchange-traded, where the exchange serves as the ultimate counterparty for all contracts, the primary credit risk on futures contracts is the creditworthiness of the exchange itself. Futures are also subject to market risk, interest rate risk (in the case of futures contracts relating to income producing securities) and index tracking risk (in the case of stock index futures).

Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline because of adverse events or circumstances that directly relate to conditions at the issuer or any entity providing it credit or liquidity support.

Leverage Risk. Leverage created by borrowing or certain investments, such as derivatives and reverse repurchase agreements, can diminish the Fund's performance and increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset value.

Liquidity Risk. A security may not be able to be sold at the time desired or without adversely affecting the price.

Management Risk. There is no guarantee of the Fund's performance or that the Fund will meet its objective. The market value of your investment may decline and you may suffer investment loss.

Market Risk. The market price of securities owned by the Fund may rapidly or unpredictably decline due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries.

Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. Mortgage- and asset-backed securities may decline in value when defaults on the underlying mortgage or assets occur and may exhibit additional volatility in periods of changing interest rates. When interest rates decline, the prepayment of mortgages or assets underlying such securities may require the Fund to reinvest such prepaid funds at lower prevailing interest rates, resulting in reduced returns.

Options Risk. An investment in options may be subject to greater fluctuation than an investment in the underlying instruments themselves. A Fund that purchases options is subject to the risk of a complete loss of premiums, while a Fund that writes options could be in a worse position than it would have been had it not written the option. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when a Fund seeks to close out an option position.

Regulatory Risk. Changes in government regulations may adversely affect the value of a security. An insufficiently regulated industry or market might also permit inappropriate practices that adversely affect an investment.

Stripped Securities Risk. Stripped securities are the separate income or principal components of debt securities. These securities are particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, and therefore subject to greater fluctuations in price than typical interest bearing debt securities. For example, stripped mortgage-backed securities have greater interest rate risk than mortgage-backed securities with like maturities, and stripped treasury securities have greater interest rate risk than traditional government securities with identical credit ratings.

Swaps Risk. Swap agreements are derivative instruments that can be individually negotiated and structured to address exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors. Depending on their structure, swap agreements may increase or decrease a Fund's exposure to long- or short-term interest rates, foreign currency values, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, or other factors such as security prices or inflation rates.

U.S. Government Obligations Risk. U.S. Government obligations may be adversely impacted by changes in interest rates, and may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.

Performance

The following information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year. The Fund's average annual total returns are compared to the performance of an appropriate broad-based index(es). Past performance before and after taxes is no guarantee of future results. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund's Web site at www.wellsfargo.com/advantagefunds.

Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31 each year
Class R

Highest Quarter: 3rd Quarter 2002

+4.81%

Lowest Quarter: 2nd Quarter 2004

-2.44%

Year-to-date total return as of 6/30/2011 is +3.01%

 

Average Annual Total Returns for the periods ended 12/31/2010

Inception Date of Share Class

1 Year

5 Year

10 Year

Class R

7/9/2010

6.87%

5.92%

5.73%

Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

6.54%

5.80%

5.84%

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state, local or foreign taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns shown are not relevant to tax-exempt investors or investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) Plans or Individual Retirement Accounts.

Fund Management

Investment Adviser

Sub-Adviser

Portfolio Manager, Title/Managed Since

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Troy Ludgood, Portfolio Manager / 2007
Thomas O'Connor, CFA, Portfolio Manager / 2003

Transaction Policies

Class R shares generally are available only to certain retirement plans, including: 401(k) plans, 457 plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans, defined benefit plans, target benefit plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans. Class R shares also are generally available only to retirement plans where plan level or omnibus accounts are held on the books of the Fund. Class R shares generally are not available to retail accounts.

For Class R shares, eligible retirement plans of qualifying size generally may open an account and purchase Class R shares by contacting certain broker-dealers and financial institutions that have selling agreements with Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (WFFD). These entities may impose transaction charges. Additional shares may be purchased through a retirement plan's administrator or record-keeper.

Institutions Purchasing Fund Shares

Minimum Initial Investment
Class R: Eligible investors are not subject to a minimum initial investment (financial intermediaries may require different minimum investment amounts) Minimum Additional Investment
Class R: None (financial intermediaries may require different minimum additional investment amounts)

Tax Information

By investing in a Fund through a tax-deferred retirement account, you will not be subject to tax on dividends and capital gains distributions from the Fund or the sale of Fund shares if those amounts remain in the tax-deferred account. Distributions taken from retirement plan accounts generally are taxable as ordinary income. For special rules concerning tax-deferred retirement accounts, including applications, restrictions, tax advantages, and potential sales charge waivers, contact your investment professional. To determine if a retirement plan may be appropriate for you and to obtain further information, consult your tax advisor.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase a Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Consult your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's Web site for more information.

 

Link to Prospectus

Link to SAI

Total Return Bond Fund Summary

Class/Ticker: Administrator Class Ticker: MNTRX

Summary Prospectus

October 1, 2011

Link to Prospectus

Link to SAI

Before you invest, you may want to review the Fund's prospectus, which contains more information about the Fund and its risks. You can find the Fund's prospectus and other information about the Fund online at www.wellsfargo.com/advantagefunds. You can also get information at no cost by calling 1-800-222-8222, or by sending an email request to wfaf@wellsfargo.com. The current prospectus ("Prospectus") and statement of additional information ("SAI"), dated October 1, 2011, are incorporated by reference into this summary prospectus. The Fund's SAI may be obtained, free of charge, in the same manner as the Prospectus.

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks total return, consisting of income and capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

These tables are intended to help you understand the various costs and expenses you will pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

None

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of offering price)

None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees1

0.36%

Distribution (12b-1) Fees

0.00%

Other Expenses

0.43%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses2

0.79%

Fee Waivers

0.09%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver3

0.70%

1. Reflects the fees charged by Funds Management for providing investment advisory services to the master portfolio in which the Fund invests substantially all of its assets.
2. Includes gross expenses allocated from the master portfolio in which the Fund invests.
3. The Adviser has committed through July 11, 2013, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund's Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver, including the underlying master portfolio's fees and expenses, and excluding certain other expenses at the amounts shown above. After this time, the cap may be changed or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Example of Expenses

The example below is intended to help you compare the costs of investing in the Fund with the costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes a $10,000 initial investment, 5% annual total return, and that operating expenses remain the same as in the tables above. The example also assumes that the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver shown above will only be in place for the length of the current waiver commitment. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

After:

1 Year

$72

3 Years

$234

5 Years

$421

10 Years

$961

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions,when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 761% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 80% of the Fund's net assets in bonds; at least 80% of the Fund's total assets in investment-grade debt securities; up to 25% of the Fund's total assets in asset-backed securities, other than mortgage-backed securities; and up to 20% of the Fund's total assets in U.S. dollar-denominated debt securities of foreign issuers.

The Fund is a gateway fund that invests substantially all of its assets in the Total Return Bond Portfolio, a master portfolio with a substantially identical investment objective and substantially similar investment strategies. We may invest in additional master portfolios, in other Wells Fargo Advantage Funds, or directly in a portfolio of securities.

We invest principally in investment-grade debt securities, including U.S. Government obligations, corporate bonds and mortgage- and asset-backed securities. As part of our investment strategy, we may invest in stripped securities or enter into mortgage dollar rolls and reverse repurchase agreements, as well as invest in U.S. dollar-denominated debt securities of foreign issuers. We may also use futures, options or swap agreements to manage risk or to enhance return or as a substitute for purchasing the underlying security. While we may purchase securities of any maturity or duration, under normal circumstances, we expect to maintain an overall dollar-weighted average effective duration range between 4 and 5½ years.

We invest in debt securities that we believe offer competitive returns and are undervalued, offering additional income and/or price appreciation potential relative to other debt securities of similar credit quality and interest rate sensitivity. From time to time, we may also invest in unrated bonds that we believe are comparable to investment-grade debt securities. We may sell a security that has achieved its desired return or if we believe the security or its sector has become overvalued. We may also sell a security if a more attractive opportunity becomes available or if the security is no longer attractive due to its risk profile or as a result of changes in the overall market environment.

Principal Investment Risks

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. or its affiliates and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

Counter-Party Risk. A Fund may incur a loss if the other party to an investment contract, such as a derivative or a repurchase or reverse repurchase agreement, fails to fulfill its contractual obligation to the Fund.

Debt Securities Risk. The issuer of a debt security may fail to pay interest or principal when due, and changes in market interest rates may reduce the value of debt securities or reduce the Fund's returns.

Derivatives Risk. The use of derivatives such as futures, options and swap agreements, can lead to losses, including those magnified by leverage, particularly when derivatives are used to enhance return rather than offset risk.

Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investments face the potential of heightened illiquidity, greater price volatility and adverse effects of political, regulatory, tax, currency, economic or other macroeconomic developments.

Futures Risk. Because the futures utilized by a Fund are standardized and exchange-traded, where the exchange serves as the ultimate counterparty for all contracts, the primary credit risk on futures contracts is the creditworthiness of the exchange itself. Futures are also subject to market risk, interest rate risk (in the case of futures contracts relating to income producing securities) and index tracking risk (in the case of stock index futures).

Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline because of adverse events or circumstances that directly relate to conditions at the issuer or any entity providing it credit or liquidity support.

Leverage Risk. Leverage created by borrowing or certain investments, such as derivatives and reverse repurchase agreements, can diminish the Fund's performance and increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset value.

Liquidity Risk. A security may not be able to be sold at the time desired or without adversely affecting the price.

Management Risk. There is no guarantee of the Fund's performance or that the Fund will meet its objective. The market value of your investment may decline and you may suffer investment loss.

Market Risk. The market price of securities owned by the Fund may rapidly or unpredictably decline due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries.

Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. Mortgage- and asset-backed securities may decline in value when defaults on the underlying mortgage or assets occur and may exhibit additional volatility in periods of changing interest rates. When interest rates decline, the prepayment of mortgages or assets underlying such securities may require the Fund to reinvest such prepaid funds at lower prevailing interest rates, resulting in reduced returns.

Options Risk. An investment in options may be subject to greater fluctuation than an investment in the underlying instruments themselves. A Fund that purchases options is subject to the risk of a complete loss of premiums, while a Fund that writes options could be in a worse position than it would have been had it not written the option. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when a Fund seeks to close out an option position.

Regulatory Risk. Changes in government regulations may adversely affect the value of a security. An insufficiently regulated industry or market might also permit inappropriate practices that adversely affect an investment.

Stripped Securities Risk. Stripped securities are the separate income or principal components of debt securities. These securities are particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, and therefore subject to greater fluctuations in price than typical interest bearing debt securities. For example, stripped mortgage-backed securities have greater interest rate risk than mortgage-backed securities with like maturities, and stripped treasury securities have greater interest rate risk than traditional government securities with identical credit ratings.

Swaps Risk. Swap agreements are derivative instruments that can be individually negotiated and structured to address exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors. Depending on their structure, swap agreements may increase or decrease a Fund's exposure to long- or short-term interest rates, foreign currency values, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, or other factors such as security prices or inflation rates.

U.S. Government Obligations Risk. U.S. Government obligations may be adversely impacted by changes in interest rates, and may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.

Performance

The following information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year. The Fund's average annual total returns are compared to the performance of an appropriate broad-based index(es). Past performance before and after taxes is no guarantee of future results. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund's Web site at wellsfargo.com/advantagefunds.

Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31 each year
Administrator Class

Highest Quarter: 3rd Quarter 2002

+4.91%

Lowest Quarter: 2nd Quarter 2004

-2.35%

Year-to-date total return as of 6/30/2011 is +3.28%

 

Average Annual Total Returns for the periods ended 12/31/2010

Inception Date of Share Class

1 Year

5 Year

10 Year

Administrator Class (before taxes)

6/30/1997

7.18%

6.30%

6.13%

Administrator Class (after taxes on distributions)

6/30/1997

4.33%

4.29%

4.13%

Administrator Class (after taxes on distributions and the sale of Fund Shares)

6/30/1997

4.87%

4.22%

4.06%

Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

6.54%

5.80%

5.84%

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state, local or foreign taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns shown are not relevant to tax-exempt investors or investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) Plans or Individual Retirement Accounts.

Fund Management

Investment Adviser

Sub-Adviser

Portfolio Manager, Title/Managed Since

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Troy Ludgood, Portfolio Manager / 2007
Thomas O'Connor, CFA, Portfolio Manager / 2003

Transaction Policies

Administrator Class shares are offered for direct investment by institutions such as pension and profit sharing plans, employee benefit trusts, endowments, foundations and corporations. Administrator Class shares may also be offered through certain financial intermediaries that may charge their customers transaction or other fees.

Institutions Purchasing Fund Shares

To Place Orders or Redeem Shares

Minimum Initial Investment
Administrator Class: $1 million (certain eligible investors may not be subject to a minimum initial investment)

Minimum Additional Investment
Administrator Class: None

Opening an Account
Institutions which currently have another account with Wells Fargo Advantage Funds may open an account by phone or internet. If the institution does not have an account, contact your investment representative.

Mail: Wells Fargo Advantage Funds
P.O. Box 8266
Boston, MA 02266-8266
Internet: wellsfargo.com/advantagefunds
Phone or Wire: 1-800-222-8222

Contact your investment representative.

Tax Information

Any distributions you receive from the Fund may be taxable as ordinary income or capital gains, except when your investment is in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax advantaged investment plan. You should consult your tax adviser about your specific tax situation.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase a Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Consult your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's Web site for more information.

 

Link to Prospectus

Link to SAI

Total Return Bond Fund Summary

Class/Ticker: Institutional Class Ticker: MBFIX

Summary Prospectus

October 1, 2011

Link to Prospectus

Link to SAI

Before you invest, you may want to review the Fund's prospectus, which contains more information about the Fund and its risks. You can find the Fund's prospectus and other information about the Fund online at www.wellsfargo.com/advantagefunds. You can also get information at no cost by calling 1-800-222-8222, or by sending an email request to wfaf@wellsfargo.com. The current prospectus ("Prospectus") and statement of additional information ("SAI"), dated October 1, 2011, are incorporated by reference into this summary prospectus. The Fund's SAI may be obtained, free of charge, in the same manner as the Prospectus.

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks total return, consisting of income and capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

These tables are intended to help you understand the various costs and expenses you will pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

None

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of offering price)

None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees1

0.36%

Distribution (12b-1) Fees

0.00%

Other Expenses

0.16%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses2

0.52%

Fee Waivers

0.10%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver3

0.42%

1. Reflects the fees charged by Funds Management for providing investment advisory services to the master portfolio in which the Fund invests substantially all of its assets.
2. Includes gross expenses allocated from the master portfolio in which the Fund invests.
3. The Adviser has committed through July 11, 2013, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund's Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver, including the underlying master portfolio's fees and expenses, and excluding certain other expenses at the amounts shown above. After this time, the cap may be changed or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Example of Expenses

The example below is intended to help you compare the costs of investing in the Fund with the costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes a $10,000 initial investment, 5% annual total return, and that operating expenses remain the same as in the tables above. The example also assumes that the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver shown above will only be in place for the length of the current waiver commitment. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

After:

1 Year

$43

3 Years

$146

5 Years

$270

10 Years

$633

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions,when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 761% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 80% of the Fund's net assets in bonds; at least 80% of the Fund's total assets in investment-grade debt securities; up to 25% of the Fund's total assets in asset-backed securities, other than mortgage-backed securities; and up to 20% of the Fund's total assets in U.S. dollar-denominated debt securities of foreign issuers.

The Fund is a gateway fund that invests substantially all of its assets in the Total Return Bond Portfolio, a master portfolio with a substantially identical investment objective and substantially similar investment strategies. We may invest in additional master portfolios, in other Wells Fargo Advantage Funds, or directly in a portfolio of securities.

We invest principally in investment-grade debt securities, including U.S. Government obligations, corporate bonds and mortgage- and asset-backed securities. As part of our investment strategy, we may invest in stripped securities or enter into mortgage dollar rolls and reverse repurchase agreements, as well as invest in U.S. dollar-denominated debt securities of foreign issuers. We may also use futures, options or swap agreements to manage risk or to enhance return or as a substitute for purchasing the underlying security. While we may purchase securities of any maturity or duration, under normal circumstances, we expect to maintain an overall dollar-weighted average effective duration range between 4 and 5½ years.

We invest in debt securities that we believe offer competitive returns and are undervalued, offering additional income and/or price appreciation potential relative to other debt securities of similar credit quality and interest rate sensitivity. From time to time, we may also invest in unrated bonds that we believe are comparable to investment-grade debt securities. We may sell a security that has achieved its desired return or if we believe the security or its sector has become overvalued. We may also sell a security if a more attractive opportunity becomes available or if the security is no longer attractive due to its risk profile or as a result of changes in the overall market environment.

Principal Investment Risks

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. or its affiliates and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

Counter-Party Risk. A Fund may incur a loss if the other party to an investment contract, such as a derivative or a repurchase or reverse repurchase agreement, fails to fulfill its contractual obligation to the Fund.

Debt Securities Risk. The issuer of a debt security may fail to pay interest or principal when due, and changes in market interest rates may reduce the value of debt securities or reduce the Fund's returns.

Derivatives Risk. The use of derivatives such as futures, options and swap agreements, can lead to losses, including those magnified by leverage, particularly when derivatives are used to enhance return rather than offset risk.

Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investments face the potential of heightened illiquidity, greater price volatility and adverse effects of political, regulatory, tax, currency, economic or other macroeconomic developments.

Futures Risk. Because the futures utilized by a Fund are standardized and exchange-traded, where the exchange serves as the ultimate counterparty for all contracts, the primary credit risk on futures contracts is the creditworthiness of the exchange itself. Futures are also subject to market risk, interest rate risk (in the case of futures contracts relating to income producing securities) and index tracking risk (in the case of stock index futures).

Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline because of adverse events or circumstances that directly relate to conditions at the issuer or any entity providing it credit or liquidity support.

Leverage Risk. Leverage created by borrowing or certain investments, such as derivatives and reverse repurchase agreements, can diminish the Fund's performance and increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset value.

Liquidity Risk. A security may not be able to be sold at the time desired or without adversely affecting the price.

Management Risk. There is no guarantee of the Fund's performance or that the Fund will meet its objective. The market value of your investment may decline and you may suffer investment loss.

Market Risk. The market price of securities owned by the Fund may rapidly or unpredictably decline due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries.

Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. Mortgage- and asset-backed securities may decline in value when defaults on the underlying mortgage or assets occur and may exhibit additional volatility in periods of changing interest rates. When interest rates decline, the prepayment of mortgages or assets underlying such securities may require the Fund to reinvest such prepaid funds at lower prevailing interest rates, resulting in reduced returns.

Options Risk. An investment in options may be subject to greater fluctuation than an investment in the underlying instruments themselves. A Fund that purchases options is subject to the risk of a complete loss of premiums, while a Fund that writes options could be in a worse position than it would have been had it not written the option. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when a Fund seeks to close out an option position.

Regulatory Risk. Changes in government regulations may adversely affect the value of a security. An insufficiently regulated industry or market might also permit inappropriate practices that adversely affect an investment.

Stripped Securities Risk. Stripped securities are the separate income or principal components of debt securities. These securities are particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, and therefore subject to greater fluctuations in price than typical interest bearing debt securities. For example, stripped mortgage-backed securities have greater interest rate risk than mortgage-backed securities with like maturities, and stripped treasury securities have greater interest rate risk than traditional government securities with identical credit ratings.

Swaps Risk. Swap agreements are derivative instruments that can be individually negotiated and structured to address exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors. Depending on their structure, swap agreements may increase or decrease a Fund's exposure to long- or short-term interest rates, foreign currency values, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, or other factors such as security prices or inflation rates.

U.S. Government Obligations Risk. U.S. Government obligations may be adversely impacted by changes in interest rates, and may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.

Performance

The following information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year. The Fund's average annual total returns are compared to the performance of an appropriate broad-based index(es). Past performance before and after taxes is no guarantee of future results. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund's Web site at wellsfargo.com/advantagefunds.

Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31 each year
Institutional Class

Highest Quarter: 3rd Quarter 2002

+4.98%

Lowest Quarter: 2nd Quarter 2004

-2.36%

Year-to-date total return as of 6/30/2011 is +3.34%

 

Average Annual Total Returns for the periods ended 12/31/2010

Inception Date of Share Class

1 Year

5 Year

10 Year

Institutional Class (before taxes)

10/31/2001

7.49%

6.60%

6.37%

Institutional Class (after taxes on distributions)

10/31/2001

4.52%

4.48%

4.28%

Institutional Class (after taxes on distributions and the sale of Fund Shares)

10/31/2001

5.06%

4.41%

4.21%

Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

6.54%

5.80%

5.84%

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state, local or foreign taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns shown are not relevant to tax-exempt investors or investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) Plans or Individual Retirement Accounts.

Fund Management

Investment Adviser

Sub-Adviser

Portfolio Manager, Title/Managed Since

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Troy Ludgood, Portfolio Manager / 2007
Thomas O'Connor, CFA, Portfolio Manager / 2003

Transaction Policies

Institutional Class shares are offered primarily for direct investment by institutions such as pension and profit sharing plans, employee benefit trusts, endowments, foundations and corporations. Institutional Class shares may also be offered through certain financial intermediaries that may charge their customers transaction or other fees.

Institutions Purchasing Fund Shares

To Place Orders or Redeem Shares

Minimum Initial Investment
Institutional Class: $5 million (certain eligible investors may not be subject to a minimum initial investment)

Minimum Additional Investment
Institutional Class: None

Opening an Account
Institutions which currently have another account with Wells Fargo Advantage Funds may open an account by phone or internet. If the institution does not have an account, contact your investment representative.

Mail: Wells Fargo Advantage Funds
P.O. Box 8266
Boston, MA 02266-8266
Internet: wellsfargo.com/advantagefunds
Phone or Wire: 1-800-222-8222

Contact your investment representative.

Tax Information

Any distributions you receive from the Fund may be taxable as ordinary income or capital gains, except when your investment is in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax advantaged investment plan. You should consult your tax adviser about your specific tax situation.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase a Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Consult your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's Web site for more information.

 

Link to Prospectus

Link to SAI

Total Return Bond Fund Summary

Class/Ticker: Investor Class Ticker: WTRZX

Summary Prospectus

October 1, 2011

Link to Prospectus

Link to SAI

Before you invest, you may want to review the Fund's prospectus, which contains more information about the Fund and its risks. You can find the Fund's prospectus and other information about the Fund online at www.wellsfargo.com/advantagefunds. You can also get information at no cost by calling 1-800-222-8222, or by sending an email request to wfaf@wellsfargo.com. The current prospectus ("Prospectus") and statement of additional information ("SAI"), dated October 1, 2011, are incorporated by reference into this summary prospectus. The Fund's SAI may be obtained, free of charge, in the same manner as the Prospectus.

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks total return, consisting of income and capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

These tables are intended to help you understand the various costs and expenses you will pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

None

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of offering price)

None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees1

0.36%

Distribution (12b-1) Fees

0.00%

Other Expenses

0.52%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses2

0.88%

Fee Waivers

0.02%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver3

0.86%

1. Reflects the fees charged by Funds Management for providing investment advisory services to the master portfolio in which the Fund invests substantially all of its assets.
2. Includes gross expenses allocated from the master portfolio in which the Fund invests.
3. The Adviser has committed through July 11, 2013, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund's Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver, including the underlying master portfolio's fees and expenses, and excluding certain other expenses at the amounts shown above. After this time, the cap may be changed or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Example of Expenses

The example below is intended to help you compare the costs of investing in the Fund with the costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes a $10,000 initial investment, 5% annual total return, and that operating expenses remain the same as in the tables above. The example also assumes that the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver shown above will only be in place for the length of the current waiver commitment. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

After:

1 Year

$88

3 Years

$277

5 Years

$484

10 Years

$1,081

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions,when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 761% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 80% of the Fund's net assets in bonds; at least 80% of the Fund's total assets in investment-grade debt securities; up to 25% of the Fund's total assets in asset-backed securities, other than mortgage-backed securities; and up to 20% of the Fund's total assets in U.S. dollar-denominated debt securities of foreign issuers.

The Fund is a gateway fund that invests substantially all of its assets in the Total Return Bond Portfolio, a master portfolio with a substantially identical investment objective and substantially similar investment strategies. We may invest in additional master portfolios, in other Wells Fargo Advantage Funds, or directly in a portfolio of securities.

We invest principally in investment-grade debt securities, including U.S. Government obligations, corporate bonds and mortgage- and asset-backed securities. As part of our investment strategy, we may invest in stripped securities or enter into mortgage dollar rolls and reverse repurchase agreements, as well as invest in U.S. dollar-denominated debt securities of foreign issuers. We may also use futures, options or swap agreements to manage risk or to enhance return or as a substitute for purchasing the underlying security. While we may purchase securities of any maturity or duration, under normal circumstances, we expect to maintain an overall dollar-weighted average effective duration range between 4 and 5½ years.

We invest in debt securities that we believe offer competitive returns and are undervalued, offering additional income and/or price appreciation potential relative to other debt securities of similar credit quality and interest rate sensitivity. From time to time, we may also invest in unrated bonds that we believe are comparable to investment-grade debt securities. We may sell a security that has achieved its desired return or if we believe the security or its sector has become overvalued. We may also sell a security if a more attractive opportunity becomes available or if the security is no longer attractive due to its risk profile or as a result of changes in the overall market environment.

Principal Investment Risks

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. or its affiliates and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

Counter-Party Risk. A Fund may incur a loss if the other party to an investment contract, such as a derivative or a repurchase or reverse repurchase agreement, fails to fulfill its contractual obligation to the Fund.

Debt Securities Risk. The issuer of a debt security may fail to pay interest or principal when due, and changes in market interest rates may reduce the value of debt securities or reduce the Fund's returns.

Derivatives Risk. The use of derivatives such as futures, options and swap agreements, can lead to losses, including those magnified by leverage, particularly when derivatives are used to enhance return rather than offset risk.

Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investments face the potential of heightened illiquidity, greater price volatility and adverse effects of political, regulatory, tax, currency, economic or other macroeconomic developments.

Futures Risk. Because the futures utilized by a Fund are standardized and exchange-traded, where the exchange serves as the ultimate counterparty for all contracts, the primary credit risk on futures contracts is the creditworthiness of the exchange itself. Futures are also subject to market risk, interest rate risk (in the case of futures contracts relating to income producing securities) and index tracking risk (in the case of stock index futures).

Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline because of adverse events or circumstances that directly relate to conditions at the issuer or any entity providing it credit or liquidity support.

Leverage Risk. Leverage created by borrowing or certain investments, such as derivatives and reverse repurchase agreements, can diminish the Fund's performance and increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset value.

Liquidity Risk. A security may not be able to be sold at the time desired or without adversely affecting the price.

Management Risk. There is no guarantee of the Fund's performance or that the Fund will meet its objective. The market value of your investment may decline and you may suffer investment loss.

Market Risk. The market price of securities owned by the Fund may rapidly or unpredictably decline due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries.

Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. Mortgage- and asset-backed securities may decline in value when defaults on the underlying mortgage or assets occur and may exhibit additional volatility in periods of changing interest rates. When interest rates decline, the prepayment of mortgages or assets underlying such securities may require the Fund to reinvest such prepaid funds at lower prevailing interest rates, resulting in reduced returns.

Options Risk. An investment in options may be subject to greater fluctuation than an investment in the underlying instruments themselves. A Fund that purchases options is subject to the risk of a complete loss of premiums, while a Fund that writes options could be in a worse position than it would have been had it not written the option. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when a Fund seeks to close out an option position.

Regulatory Risk. Changes in government regulations may adversely affect the value of a security. An insufficiently regulated industry or market might also permit inappropriate practices that adversely affect an investment.

Stripped Securities Risk. Stripped securities are the separate income or principal components of debt securities. These securities are particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, and therefore subject to greater fluctuations in price than typical interest bearing debt securities. For example, stripped mortgage-backed securities have greater interest rate risk than mortgage-backed securities with like maturities, and stripped treasury securities have greater interest rate risk than traditional government securities with identical credit ratings.

Swaps Risk. Swap agreements are derivative instruments that can be individually negotiated and structured to address exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors. Depending on their structure, swap agreements may increase or decrease a Fund's exposure to long- or short-term interest rates, foreign currency values, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, or other factors such as security prices or inflation rates.

U.S. Government Obligations Risk. U.S. Government obligations may be adversely impacted by changes in interest rates, and may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.

Performance

The following information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year. The Fund's average annual total returns are compared to the performance of an appropriate broad-based index(es). Past performance before and after taxes is no guarantee of future results. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund's Web site at wellsfargo.com/advantagefunds.

Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31 each year
Investor Class

Highest Quarter: 3rd Quarter 2002

+4.84%

Lowest Quarter: 2nd Quarter 2004

-2.41%

Year-to-date total return as of 6/30/2011 is +3.20%

 

Average Annual Total Returns for the periods ended 12/31/2010

Inception Date of Share Class

1 Year

5 Year

10 Year

Investor Class (before taxes)

4/8/2005

7.00%

6.07%

5.88%

Investor Class (after taxes on distributions)

4/8/2005

4.21%

4.14%

3.93%

Investor Class (after taxes on distributions and the sale of Fund Shares)

4/8/2005

4.75%

4.07%

3.87%

Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

6.54%

5.80%

5.84%

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state, local or foreign taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns shown are not relevant to tax-exempt investors or investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) Plans or Individual Retirement Accounts.

Fund Management

Investment Adviser

Sub-Adviser

Portfolio Manager, Title/Managed Since

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Troy Ludgood, Portfolio Manager / 2007
Thomas O'Connor, CFA, Portfolio Manager / 2003

Transaction Policies

Buying Fund Shares

To Place Orders or Redeem Shares

Minimum Initial Investment
Investor Class: $2,500

Minimum Additional Investment
Investor Class: $100

Mail: Wells Fargo Advantage Funds
P.O. Box 8266
Boston, MA 02266-8266
Internet: wellsfargo.com/advantagefunds
Phone or Wire: 1-800-222-8222

Contact your financial professional.

In general, you can buy or sell shares of the Fund by mail, internet, phone or wire on any business day. You also may buy and sell shares through a financial professional.

Tax Information

Any distributions you receive from the Fund may be taxable as ordinary income or capital gains, except when your investment is in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax advantaged investment plan. You should consult your tax adviser about your specific tax situation.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase a Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Consult your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's Web site for more information.

 

Link to Prospectus

Link to SAI

Total Return Bond Fund Summary

Class/Ticker: Class A - MBFAX; Class B - MBFBX; Class C -MBFCX

Summary Prospectus

October 1, 2011

Link to Prospectus

Link to SAI

Before you invest, you may want to review the Fund's prospectus, which contains more information about the Fund and its risks. You can find the Fund's prospectus and other information about the Fund online at www.wellsfargo.com/advantagefunds. You can also get information at no cost by calling 1-800-222-8222, or by sending an email request to wfaf@wellsfargo.com. The current prospectus ("Prospectus") and statement of additional information ("SAI"), dated October 1, 2011, are incorporated by reference into this summary prospectus. The Fund's SAI may be obtained, free of charge, in the same manner as the Prospectus.

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks total return, consisting of income and capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

These tables are intended to help you understand the various costs and expenses you will pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the aggregate in specified classes of certain Wells Fargo Advantage Funds®. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in "A Choice of Share Classes" and "Reductions and Waivers of Sales Charges" on pages 24 and 27 of the Prospectus and "Additional Purchase and Redemption Information" on page 48 of the Statement of Additional Information.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Class A

Class B

Class C

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases
(as a percentage of offering price)

4.50%

None

None

Maximum deferred sales charge (load)
(as a percentage of offering price)

None

5.00%

1.00%

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Class A

Class B

Class C

Management Fees1

0.36%

0.36%

0.36%

Distribution (12b-1) Fees

0.00%

0.75%

0.75%

Other Expenses

0.49%

0.49%

0.49%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses2

0.85%

1.60%

1.60%

Fee Waivers

0.02%

0.02%

0.02%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver3

0.83%

1.58%

1.58%

1. Reflects the fees charged by Funds Management for providing investment advisory services to the master portfolio in which the Fund invests substantially all of its assets.
2. Includes gross expenses allocated from the master portfolio in which the Fund invests.
3. The Adviser has committed through July 11, 2013, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund's Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver, including the underlying master portfolio's fees and expenses, and excluding certain other expenses at the amounts shown above. After this time, the cap may be changed or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Example of Expenses

The example below is intended to help you compare the costs of investing in the Fund with the costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes a $10,000 initial investment, 5% annual total return, and that operating expenses remain the same as in the tables above. The example also assumes that the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver shown above will only be in place for the length of the current waiver commitment. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

Assuming Redemption at End of Period

Assuming No Redemption

After:

Class A

Class B

Class C

Class B

Class C

1 Year

$531

$661

$261

$161

$161

3 Years

$705

$801

$501

$501

$501

5 Years

$896

$1,067

$867

$867

$867

10 Years

$1,448

$1,601

$1,897

$1,601

$1,897

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions,when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 761% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 80% of the Fund's net assets in bonds; at least 80% of the Fund's total assets in investment-grade debt securities; up to 25% of the Fund's total assets in asset-backed securities, other than mortgage-backed securities; and up to 20% of the Fund's total assets in U.S. dollar-denominated debt securities of foreign issuers.

The Fund is a gateway fund that invests substantially all of its assets in the Total Return Bond Portfolio, a master portfolio with a substantially identical investment objective and substantially similar investment strategies. We may invest in additional master portfolios, in other Wells Fargo Advantage Funds, or directly in a portfolio of securities.

We invest principally in investment-grade debt securities, including U.S. Government obligations, corporate bonds and mortgage- and asset-backed securities. As part of our investment strategy, we may invest in stripped securities or enter into mortgage dollar rolls and reverse repurchase agreements, as well as invest in U.S. dollar-denominated debt securities of foreign issuers. We may also use futures, options or swap agreements to manage risk or to enhance return or as a substitute for purchasing the underlying security. While we may purchase securities of any maturity or duration, under normal circumstances, we expect to maintain an overall dollar-weighted average effective duration range between 4 and 5½ years.

We invest in debt securities that we believe offer competitive returns and are undervalued, offering additional income and/or price appreciation potential relative to other debt securities of similar credit quality and interest rate sensitivity. From time to time, we may also invest in unrated bonds that we believe are comparable to investment-grade debt securities. We may sell a security that has achieved its desired return or if we believe the security or its sector has become overvalued. We may also sell a security if a more attractive opportunity becomes available or if the security is no longer attractive due to its risk profile or as a result of changes in the overall market environment.

Principal Investment Risks

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. or its affiliates and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

Counter-Party Risk. A Fund may incur a loss if the other party to an investment contract, such as a derivative or a repurchase or reverse repurchase agreement, fails to fulfill its contractual obligation to the Fund.

Debt Securities Risk. The issuer of a debt security may fail to pay interest or principal when due, and changes in market interest rates may reduce the value of debt securities or reduce the Fund's returns.

Derivatives Risk. The use of derivatives such as futures, options and swap agreements, can lead to losses, including those magnified by leverage, particularly when derivatives are used to enhance return rather than offset risk.

Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investments face the potential of heightened illiquidity, greater price volatility and adverse effects of political, regulatory, tax, currency, economic or other macroeconomic developments.

Futures Risk. Because the futures utilized by a Fund are standardized and exchange-traded, where the exchange serves as the ultimate counterparty for all contracts, the primary credit risk on futures contracts is the creditworthiness of the exchange itself. Futures are also subject to market risk, interest rate risk (in the case of futures contracts relating to income producing securities) and index tracking risk (in the case of stock index futures).

Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline because of adverse events or circumstances that directly relate to conditions at the issuer or any entity providing it credit or liquidity support.

Leverage Risk. Leverage created by borrowing or certain investments, such as derivatives and reverse repurchase agreements, can diminish the Fund's performance and increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset value.

Liquidity Risk. A security may not be able to be sold at the time desired or without adversely affecting the price.

Management Risk. There is no guarantee of the Fund's performance or that the Fund will meet its objective. The market value of your investment may decline and you may suffer investment loss.

Market Risk. The market price of securities owned by the Fund may rapidly or unpredictably decline due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries.

Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. Mortgage- and asset-backed securities may decline in value when defaults on the underlying mortgage or assets occur and may exhibit additional volatility in periods of changing interest rates. When interest rates decline, the prepayment of mortgages or assets underlying such securities may require the Fund to reinvest such prepaid funds at lower prevailing interest rates, resulting in reduced returns.

Options Risk. An investment in options may be subject to greater fluctuation than an investment in the underlying instruments themselves. A Fund that purchases options is subject to the risk of a complete loss of premiums, while a Fund that writes options could be in a worse position than it would have been had it not written the option. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when a Fund seeks to close out an option position.

Regulatory Risk. Changes in government regulations may adversely affect the value of a security. An insufficiently regulated industry or market might also permit inappropriate practices that adversely affect an investment.

Stripped Securities Risk. Stripped securities are the separate income or principal components of debt securities. These securities are particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, and therefore subject to greater fluctuations in price than typical interest bearing debt securities. For example, stripped mortgage-backed securities have greater interest rate risk than mortgage-backed securities with like maturities, and stripped treasury securities have greater interest rate risk than traditional government securities with identical credit ratings.

Swaps Risk. Swap agreements are derivative instruments that can be individually negotiated and structured to address exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors. Depending on their structure, swap agreements may increase or decrease a Fund's exposure to long- or short-term interest rates, foreign currency values, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, or other factors such as security prices or inflation rates.

U.S. Government Obligations Risk. U.S. Government obligations may be adversely impacted by changes in interest rates, and may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.

Performance

The following information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year. The Fund's average annual total returns are compared to the performance of an appropriate broad-based index(es). Past performance before and after taxes is no guarantee of future results. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund's Web site at wellsfargo.com/advantagefunds.

Calendar Year Total Returns for Class A as of 12/31 each year
(Returns do not reflect sales charges and would be lower if they did)

Highest Quarter: 3rd Quarter 2002

+4.86%

Lowest Quarter: 2nd Quarter 2004

-2.44%

Year-to-date total return as of 6/30/2011 is +3.17%

 

Average Annual Total Returns for the periods ended 12/31/2010 (Returns reflect applicable sales charges)

Inception Date of Share Class

1 Year

5 Year

10 Year

Class A (before taxes)

10/31/2001

2.61%

5.22%

5.53%

Class A (after taxes on distributions)

10/31/2001

-0.04%

3.31%

3.66%

Class A (after taxes on distributions and the sale of Fund Shares)

10/31/2001

1.88%

3.34%

3.62%

Class B (before taxes)

10/31/2001

1.33%

5.02%

5.50%

Class C (before taxes)

10/31/2001

5.27%

5.34%

5.18%

Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

6.54%

5.80%

5.84%

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state, local or foreign taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns shown are not relevant to tax-exempt investors or investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) Plans or Individual Retirement Accounts. After-tax returns are shown only for the Class A shares. After-tax returns for the Class B and Class C shares will vary.

Fund Management

Investment Adviser

Sub-Adviser

Portfolio Manager, Title/Managed Since

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Troy Ludgood, Portfolio Manager / 2007
Thomas O'Connor, CFA, Portfolio Manager / 2003

Transaction Policies

Buying Fund Shares

To Place Orders or Redeem Shares

Minimum Initial Investment
Class A and Class C: $1,000
Class B shares are generally closed to new investment.

Minimum Additional Investment
All Classes: $100

Mail: Wells Fargo Advantage Funds
P.O. Box 8266
Boston, MA 02266-8266
Internet: wellsfargo.com/advantagefunds
Phone or Wire: 1-800-222-8222

Contact your financial professional.

In general, you can buy or sell shares of the Fund by mail, internet, phone or wire on any business day. You also may buy and sell shares through a financial professional.

Tax Information

Any distributions you receive from the Fund may be taxable as ordinary income or capital gains, except when your investment is in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax advantaged investment plan. You should consult your tax adviser about your specific tax situation.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase a Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Consult your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's Web site for more information.

 

Link to Prospectus

Link to SAI